Effect of potassium application on vascular tissue structure and material transport properties in summer maize (Zea mays L.)
Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: Field experiments were conducted at the Dongping Agricultural Science Institute, Tai’an city, Shandong province from 2020 to 2021, using Denghai 605 (DH605) as the experimental material. The objective of the study is to explore the effects of K application on vascular system structure and material transport properties in summer maize, five K2O application rates of 0 kg hm-2 (K0), 150 kg hm-2 (K1), 225 kg hm-2 (K2), 300 kg hm-2 (K3), and 375 kg hm-2 (K4) were set under uniform N and P fertilizer rates (N 225 kg hm-2 and P2O5 110 kg hm-2). The results showed that maize leaf thickness, leaf vein cross-sectional area, and xylem area increased and then decreased with the increase of K application rates, and reached the maximum at K3 treatment. K application significantly increased the cross-sectional area, the number and area of small and big vascular bundles at the basal stalk and ear-pedicel in maize. The ratio of stalk vascular area to cross-sectional area reached the highest value at K2 treatment, while the ratio of ear-pedicel vascular was significantly higher in K2 and K4 treatments than in other treatments. The number and area of vascular bundles of ear-axis revealed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with K fertilization, and the total area of vascular bundles was significantly higher in K2 and K3 treatments than in other treatments. K application significantly increased the bleeding intensity of stem and ear-pedicel, both of which were the highest under K2 treatment at filling stage. Correlation analysis revealed that the total area and number of vascular bundles of the stem, the total area and total number of vascular bundles of the ear-pedicel were significantly and positively correlated with grain yield. The total area of vascular bundles of ear-axis were significantly and positively correlated with 1000-grain weight. In conclusion, K2 conditions promoted the development of the vascular systems in the leaves, stems, and ears of maize, increased the bleeding sap, and enhanced the fluidity of the “flow” system, thus improving grain yield in summer maize.
Source: ACTA AGRONOMICA SINICA
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $941
OpenAlex ID: W7118959013